Is living in a small space fun?

With three kids and a husband living in a smaller home, I have had to be super creative to maximize the space and storage. I will say the worst part of being in a small home is the storage. I am a perfectionist and a neat freak, so clutter is just not an option. We have ritual "spring cleanings" to make sure we are only holding on to the things we use. We have built dressers into the closets in the kids rooms to maximize floor space (and it's a safer option as they won't tip on climbing kids!) and we have a lot of shelving available. We also built a loft bed so that our daughter would have all the floor space and a bulky bed wouldn't take up any precious square footage!

It seems to 'look' untidy easier than a larger space would, but it's a lot easier to clean. It is very cozy to have a smaller home... sometimes too cozy... but it is all in how you make it out to be and what you allow the space to become.

If you are a tidy, non-cluttered person- you will do great in a smaller space. Just keep up on picking up, changing the place of things often to make the space seem more open, finding unique places for things (i.e. my office is in my closet), be creative (hang cloth on a rod instead of closet doors) and you will enjoy having a smaller space =)

HTH

Animalcrackers247

Our family of five (with another on the way) lives in a small trailer home. I am forced to come up with ways to make our limited space feel homey, clean, and uncluttered. We don't have much for storage, so we are continually getting rid of the old when new stuff comes in. No pack rats allowed here!

When I visit other peoples' homes, people with real houses with basements, upstairs, and lots of rooms, it is mind boggling to me how much JUNK they can accumulate. Does anyone really need all that STUFF??? I like living in a small space. It has forced us to live minimally and I think that's a much better way to live. Make do with what you have. "All you have is all that you need" that's what I say.

Make use of the space you have. There is a lot of room between the floor and the ceiling. Loft beds work great. With the use of floor -to- ceiling shelving you can get all the space used in the closets. Make sure everything has its own spot to go. That way you keep things neat and clean. Have fun!

IKEA has lots of storage solutions, small furniture, etc. that is specifically designed for tiny apartments/small living spaces. Their website shows everything, but it's really best if you can go walk through a store - they have several apartments set up so you can see how it all works.

Rats are the best small pets I have had. They act a lot like little dogs really. Male rats are cuddly, females are very energetic. They can be taught tricks and litter trained. You need to get them in pairs, and they require a cage that is at least 4 cubic ft.

It is if you are not a magpie clutter gatherer like me!